Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put and end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
Psalm 73:25-28
What an honor it is to kneel before the feet of Jesus. I can look at today, or even this week, and see how many times I have missed opportunities to relish in thanksgiving and praises to Him who saves.
But all I know is there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you, Father. My flesh and heart continue to fail, but you, Lord, are my strength and portion forever. God, I long to always be near to you. Please let me avoid the temptation to walk another way for, you say, those who are unfaithful will perish. But I know it is good to be near God. Thank you for allowing me to know this truth. I pray, God, you will be my refuge so that I may be passionate about spreading your Gospel.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Zechariah 9 Explodes
the book of Zechariah starts off with a lot of visions of horseman, horns and crafsmen, man with a measuring line, joshua the high priest, golden lampstand, flying scroll, and the last vision of four chariots. So in essence, I haven't really dug very deep into trying to find the true context and points to these listed visions, but the biggest explosion of insight happens in Chapter 9.
Ninth chapter starts with the place of people before God. What are they doing? V.3 Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. Then V.4 explains "The Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her powers on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire." So God further explains his judgement on the people.
Then the next two sections are titled wonderfully from the ESV kids. Verses 9-13 is labeled "The coming King of Zion" and 14-17 is "The Lord will save his people." Usually I don't pay much attention to titles that men have penciled, but these titles grab you after reading 8 chapters of visions and somewhat confusing text. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." In exclamation, rejoice for God of salvation is coming to you.
This is when I imagine people just sitting around a room as the light of God suddenly appears with him entering the room. The whole crowd would jump to their feet in loud praise and thanksgiving. Loud applause gives glory to the Lamb, our Saviour. His entrance is majestic, but what God comes in on a donkey? This shows our God comes with love and peace. Verse 10 says "he shall speak peace to the nations."
People are so self-righteous. They strive after gold and silver like Tyre, but why settle for such material goods? Imagine bringing home gold and silver to your family. Yes, there would be rejoicing for a little while, but soon the treasure would run dry. So think of the entrance of Jesus Christ! This is the inheritance of a lifetime for all eternity. O God, how I love thee.
The rest of Chapter 9 continues to tell of God's great hand over his people. Here are the last two verses of the chapter.
"On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women."
O what a day...have you ever thought we are like jewels of the crown of God?
Ninth chapter starts with the place of people before God. What are they doing? V.3 Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. Then V.4 explains "The Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her powers on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire." So God further explains his judgement on the people.
Then the next two sections are titled wonderfully from the ESV kids. Verses 9-13 is labeled "The coming King of Zion" and 14-17 is "The Lord will save his people." Usually I don't pay much attention to titles that men have penciled, but these titles grab you after reading 8 chapters of visions and somewhat confusing text. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." In exclamation, rejoice for God of salvation is coming to you.
This is when I imagine people just sitting around a room as the light of God suddenly appears with him entering the room. The whole crowd would jump to their feet in loud praise and thanksgiving. Loud applause gives glory to the Lamb, our Saviour. His entrance is majestic, but what God comes in on a donkey? This shows our God comes with love and peace. Verse 10 says "he shall speak peace to the nations."
People are so self-righteous. They strive after gold and silver like Tyre, but why settle for such material goods? Imagine bringing home gold and silver to your family. Yes, there would be rejoicing for a little while, but soon the treasure would run dry. So think of the entrance of Jesus Christ! This is the inheritance of a lifetime for all eternity. O God, how I love thee.
The rest of Chapter 9 continues to tell of God's great hand over his people. Here are the last two verses of the chapter.
"On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women."
O what a day...have you ever thought we are like jewels of the crown of God?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Our hearts have peace in God
The life of St. Augustine offers strong writing on knowing God and the happiness that ensues from a relationship with him.
Here are some quotes from him that are running through my head tonight...
"O Lord, that I may love you [freely], for I can find nothing more precious."
"If your delight is in souls, love them in God...and draw as many with you to him as you can." "You yourself [O God] are their joy. Happiness is to rejoice in you and for you and because of you. This is true happiness and there is no other."
"The thread of our speech comes alive through the very joy we take in what we are speaking about."
On Evangelism: "I am not alone in this desire [for the blessed state of happiness], nor are there only a few who share it with me: without exception we all long for happiness...All agree that they want to be happy...They may all search for it in different ways, but all try their hardest to reach the same goal, that is, joy." "You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you." "He is happy who possesses God."
On things of the world: "If the things of this world delight you, praise God for them but turn your love away from them and give it to their Maker, so that in the things that please you may not displease him."
The blanket quote for knowing Augustine's heart in his conversion:
"How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!...You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place...O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation."
Here are some quotes from him that are running through my head tonight...
"O Lord, that I may love you [freely], for I can find nothing more precious."
"If your delight is in souls, love them in God...and draw as many with you to him as you can." "You yourself [O God] are their joy. Happiness is to rejoice in you and for you and because of you. This is true happiness and there is no other."
"The thread of our speech comes alive through the very joy we take in what we are speaking about."
On Evangelism: "I am not alone in this desire [for the blessed state of happiness], nor are there only a few who share it with me: without exception we all long for happiness...All agree that they want to be happy...They may all search for it in different ways, but all try their hardest to reach the same goal, that is, joy." "You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you." "He is happy who possesses God."
On things of the world: "If the things of this world delight you, praise God for them but turn your love away from them and give it to their Maker, so that in the things that please you may not displease him."
The blanket quote for knowing Augustine's heart in his conversion:
"How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!...You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place...O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation."
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
St. Augustine
I'm so thankful for St. Augustine 1600 years ago.
I've just become extremely intrigued to read the biographies of old pastor dudes. St. Augustine was a beast. But wait, let me "slow my roll," he was a true man. I've only just begun to unravel the inspiring words from him, but I can't wait to learn more a man that lived in 300 AD. (I never thought I would have this desire when I was in 6th grade dancing around my bedroom listening to "underdog" by Audio Adrenaline with a few lamps on for soft lighting.)
"How sweet all at once it was for me to rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!...You drove them from me, you who are true, the sovereign joy"-Augustine
Every man needs to read Augustine. I'm only beginning...
I've just become extremely intrigued to read the biographies of old pastor dudes. St. Augustine was a beast. But wait, let me "slow my roll," he was a true man. I've only just begun to unravel the inspiring words from him, but I can't wait to learn more a man that lived in 300 AD. (I never thought I would have this desire when I was in 6th grade dancing around my bedroom listening to "underdog" by Audio Adrenaline with a few lamps on for soft lighting.)
"How sweet all at once it was for me to rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!...You drove them from me, you who are true, the sovereign joy"-Augustine
Every man needs to read Augustine. I'm only beginning...
Friday, October 2, 2009
His love quiets your soul
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. -Zephaniah 3:17
I've got to be honest, I never thought I'd be so attached to a verse in Zephaniah, but this is the reason why I'm reading through the minor prophets. I need these uncovered verses to jump out at me, but, of course, I believe this is the power of God's word.
I'm so thankful. Today God is with me like he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He's God whom saves the dreaded sinner such as I, and he will continually rejoice with gladness over us as we seek him. His love quiets us. How will God quiet our worried, anxious, and nervous minds? With his love he will quiet us.
For a long time now, there has been a lot on my mind, but during this time I'm trying to stay focused on Christ. His grace, mercy, goodness, and love are immeasurable and great. I wish to sit in the shadows of the Cross all the days that I live in hopes to gain a better view from the front row of his majesty. How can I love thee more? How can I be closer to thee?
Yesterday I realized I might be perfectly content being able to read scripture all day long, but a closed room wouldn't be good enough so I'd need to be reading from the top of the tallest building just so I can be closer to God in Heaven. My God has brought me through so much in my life, much less the last few months, and I wish I could at least kneel beside him to give him the glory and praises he requires. The Almighty God, King of my soul, is the love that quiets my soul.
I recently had to tell a friend our contact should be minimal because I thought our close communication was distracting them from knowing God to the fullest. The conversation saddened my heart to know I'd have to eliminate our personal communication, but, no matter what the cost, Christ must always be magnified and sought first in our lives. This makes me think of Paul when he said, "For me to live is Christ and die is gain." Our lives must soak up Christ. But death does not frighten my main goals because death is only a celebration to be closer to Christ. While I know Christ is being exalted in our dedication to follow after him, I'm just praying for the time when I can rejoice with my friend again. When we talk again I know it will be full of joy and peace because it will be all God. Not just God's will, but our minds will be seeking His name. What is better? I choose to sacrifice today so we can rejoice in the future with Christ further magnified than he was before. O How he love us.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
I've got to be honest, I never thought I'd be so attached to a verse in Zephaniah, but this is the reason why I'm reading through the minor prophets. I need these uncovered verses to jump out at me, but, of course, I believe this is the power of God's word.
I'm so thankful. Today God is with me like he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He's God whom saves the dreaded sinner such as I, and he will continually rejoice with gladness over us as we seek him. His love quiets us. How will God quiet our worried, anxious, and nervous minds? With his love he will quiet us.
For a long time now, there has been a lot on my mind, but during this time I'm trying to stay focused on Christ. His grace, mercy, goodness, and love are immeasurable and great. I wish to sit in the shadows of the Cross all the days that I live in hopes to gain a better view from the front row of his majesty. How can I love thee more? How can I be closer to thee?
Yesterday I realized I might be perfectly content being able to read scripture all day long, but a closed room wouldn't be good enough so I'd need to be reading from the top of the tallest building just so I can be closer to God in Heaven. My God has brought me through so much in my life, much less the last few months, and I wish I could at least kneel beside him to give him the glory and praises he requires. The Almighty God, King of my soul, is the love that quiets my soul.
I recently had to tell a friend our contact should be minimal because I thought our close communication was distracting them from knowing God to the fullest. The conversation saddened my heart to know I'd have to eliminate our personal communication, but, no matter what the cost, Christ must always be magnified and sought first in our lives. This makes me think of Paul when he said, "For me to live is Christ and die is gain." Our lives must soak up Christ. But death does not frighten my main goals because death is only a celebration to be closer to Christ. While I know Christ is being exalted in our dedication to follow after him, I'm just praying for the time when I can rejoice with my friend again. When we talk again I know it will be full of joy and peace because it will be all God. Not just God's will, but our minds will be seeking His name. What is better? I choose to sacrifice today so we can rejoice in the future with Christ further magnified than he was before. O How he love us.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
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